Latch lock, particularly for workmen&#39;s tool bags and analogous containers



Feb. 25, 1947. RQDGER 2,416,497

LATCH LOCK, PARTICULARLY FOR WORKMENS TOOL BAGS AND ANALOGOUS CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 9,-1944 Patented Feb. 25, 1947 LATCH LooK, PARTICULARLY FoRfWORK- Y MENS TOOL BaGsAND ANALOGOUS CON- TAINERS Robert Rodger, Watford, ,England V i I Application December 9, 1944,S e rialNo. 567,338 g Great Britain December-14, 1943 This invention relates to workmen' s t ool' bags,

cycle tool bags, and analogous containers, and it 1 has for its-principal object to protect the contents from unauthorised abstraction. r

According to the invention a workmans tool bag-cycle tool bag, or analogous containeris constructed with a cover provided with spring-urged key-controlled internal locking means functioning automatically when the container is closed.

To this end the cover of the'container carries anexternal spring-controlled member connected operatively to internal retaining elements and adapted after being unlocked to be depressed for the purpose of imparting movement to said elements to disengage them and permit the cover of the container to be opened and access to be had to its interior and any external pockets which may be formed on the container.

In one constructional embodiment of the invention there is disposed above the longitudinal centre of the cover a handle member supported by two spring-controlled plungers slidable in vertical tubular guide posts each secured above an aperture formed in the cover, and within each tubular guide post is a plunger connected to a depending hook or latch loosely pivoted in the guide post and adapted normally to engage a fixed bar extending longitudinally of the container, whereby depression of the handle member serves to displace the plungers thereby to disengage-the hooks or latches from the aforesaid fixed bar or lugs. A key-operated blocking member is associated with one or each of the plungersto prevent its displacement, this blocking member and the pertaining tubular guide post having coacting tongues and grooves or equivalent which can be aligned to permit movement of the plunger only by angularly shifting the blocking member by means of the key.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a handbag with the cover closed, and Figure 2 is a similar view with the cover open, and Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sections, at ninety degrees from one another,

of a form of the latch lock that is incorporated at one end of the handle of the bag.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the body I and z Qlaims. (01. 76 63) located at the top of a pocket such as l the reception in particular of oil cans. 8 'isja stout metal frame disposed vertically in the central'longitudinal plane ofthebody l to which and 1 the endsZ it is securedasby spot-welding, the upper run of this frame 8 constituting a bridge I longitudinally of the open top of the body and being formed with two cranked portions at l-J.

In alignment with the frame 8, and mutually opposite the cranked portions 9, the cover 3 is apertured and has formed on'it or secured to it two'bosses H above each of which extends/a vertical tubular guide such as 12, Figures 3 and 4,

within which is slidable a plunger I3 operable against the tension of a compression spring 14 and carrying a depending stem l5 which passes through the apertured cover 3 and connects freely with'the heel of a hook or latch l6 loosely mounted about a pin l'l fixed in each boss I l, the toe of the latch 16 taking into the correspondingly opposite cranked portion 9 of the frame 8; and bridging the two plungers l3, pinned or otherwise secured thereto, is a handle l8,

When the cover of the bag is closed the tension in the springs l4 holds the hooks or latches IS in engagement with the bridge member of the frame 8 by which the weight of the bag and its contents is borne when the bag is carried by hand, and in order to obtain access to the interior of the bag the handle I8 is pressed downends 2 of the bag are here shown as formed of wards against the springs M to rock the hooks or latches 16 about their pivotal centres and withdraw theirtoes from engagement with the bridge member 8 after which the cover 3 can be opened. However, in order to prevent unauthorised access to the contents of thecbag one end of the handle (8 is provided with a key-op erated look now to bedescribed.

The handle I8 (Figures 3 and 4) is provided with a keyhole to admit a key 38 and the plunger I3 is formed with a keyway for the same purpose and is pinned at 39 against rotation. At its upper end the tubular guide l2 has diametrically opposite V-notches 48 cut in it and between the top of the guide l2 and the underside of the plunger l3 a circular latch 4| is located which isformed with depending V-shaped projections 42 spaced correspondingly with the notches 40.

This latch 4|, which is capable of both angular and axial movement, has an upwardly projecting lug 43 which engages a recess 44 in the plunger I3 and which serves the double purpose of providing an abutment for the ward or wards of'the key 38 and also an anchorage for the upper end that may be disposed externally of each end of the bag'for.

I of the spring [4 whereof the lower end is anchored to the shelf 2| between which and the latch the spring is confined. In Figures 3 and4 the handle is 'shown in the locked position and cannot be depressed in order to release the hook or latch Hi from the bridge member or frameflbecause the?"proje'cti'onsiare r not aligned with the notches 40 Butwhenthe key 38 is turned it bears on the projecting lug 43 and rotates the circular latch 4| until theszlil said projections 42 thereon register with. and. are drawn into the, said notches. lfl 'whereuponfithe handle may be depressed in opposition'to the ten-'- sional force of the spring [4 to releasesthe hook or latch l6 and enable the bag to be opened-in: themanner already described. If. then thetikeyi,

propriate key inserted in said keyhole, said mem- V ber and said tubular guide having co-acting prois left undisturbed the latching means will'ifiinction automatically on closing the cover againy whereafter the key can be turned back and'removed to prevent re-disengagement of the latch without further use of the'keyi;

Iiclaim: 7 v V 1.; A. latch lock, particularlyfor a workmans'" 110015; bag or an; analogous-container, comprising artubular guide, an axially. slidable cover/for one. end;.portion of the tubular. guide, said cover havinga keyhole, a latch. looselypivoted within the opposite end portion of the guide,- .a plunger mounted within: the guide for. sliding, movement? with'the cover andpivotd to the heel of the latch, a. blocking members mounted in 'theicover, r

for sliding movement therewith and for independent; angular movement by means of an. ap-' jections and grooves, andspring means normally constraining the cover outwardly and the blocking member to an angular position in which said projections and grooves are out of alignment thereby to lock. the latch;

' 2. LA; latchlock accordingito claim..1,:the plunger having a recess and the blocking member haviing' in engagement with said recess a projection serving the double purpose of providing an abutment-xfor: the wards: of the key inserted in the cover keyhole. andalso as an anchorage for one end of the spring means. 7

. ROBERT RODGER.

REFERENCE S CITED The, following references are of record in the filofthi's patent: 

